On October 21st, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated previous guidance on returning to work. Specifically, the agency clarified what constitutes as “close contact” with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. “Close contact” is mainly used for purposes of isolation after initial contact. Previously, “close contact” was when someone was within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes. Now, “close contact” is being within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes, over a 24-hour period. This new definition greatly expands the number of individuals who may qualify as “exposed” to the coronavirus.
Updated Returning to Work Guidance
Included in the guidance are specific situations to help evaluate an individual’s possible contact to COVID-19. The situations that an individual can experience, listed below, dictates how long the person should quarantine before returning to work.
Positive Test and Symptoms. If the worker tested positive for COVID-19 and has symptoms, they should not return to work until:
- A minimum of 10 days have passed from the onset of symptoms;
- At least 24 hours have passed since a fever dissipated without the use of fever reducing medications; and/or
- There has been an improvement in other symptoms.
No Test or Negative Test and Symptoms. If the worker did not take a test, tested negative, but has symptoms, they should not return to work until:
- A minimum of 10 days have passed from the onset of symptoms;
- At least 24 hours have passed since a fever dissipated without the use of fever reducing medications; and/or
- There has been an improvement in other symptoms.
Positive Test and No Symptoms. If the worker tested positive for COVID-19 with no symptoms, they should not return to work until:
- A minimum of 10 days have passed since a positive test result.
Exposed and Symptoms. A worker exposed to the virus and showing symptoms should not return to work until:
- A minimum of 10 days have passed from the onset of symptoms;
- At least 24 hours have passed since a fever dissipated without the use of fever reducing medications; and/or
- There has been an improvement in other symptoms.
In the above examples, if a healthcare provide recommends testing, 2 negative tests in a row must also occur. These tests must take place at least 24 hours apart.
Employer Takeaways
The CDC updated the guidance to help employers keep their employees safe during the continuing global pandemic. Aside from when employees are sick and/or showing symptoms, employers need to watch out for employees who seem to be healthy. If a worker was in “close contact” with an infected individual, they should go home. Those workers should not return to work until 14 days after the exposure. Isolation is not needed, however, if there was a prior positive diagnosis (within 3 months) and there’s no ongoing symptoms. A full version of the updated guidance is available on the CDC’s website.